Big God - Faith Walking
March 31, 2024
What’s this?
It’s a section of this Stack that reflects the content of a weekly small group Bible study that I lead. These posts primarily consist of a sermon outline used as notes during the meeting. A longer description can be found on the About page. If you subscribe to this Substack but don’t wish to receive notifications for this section, select Manage Subscription from the upper-right menu and turn the notification off there.
Missing Weeks
I missed several weeks of posts here when the actual, physical group was not meeting as we normally do, for a variety of reasons. While that group is not directly connected with what I post here, my preparation for it supplies these outlines. There has been no meeting for which to prepare; hence no posts. The last several weeks have been trying for all of us, I would say, in different ways.
Audience
I prepare and present these outlines for an on-campus small group audience, adding explanations and additional questions during the meeting itself. Members of the group vary in their understanding, but are familiar with the Bible, can find references fairly quickly, and tend to believe what they read there. The beliefs we hold vary individually.
I have no particular expectation with regard to an online audience. Curiosity is enough. The same goes for visitors to the church itself.
Questions and comments are encouraged.
Small Group Setting
Meetings are informal and conversational, although there is structure. We begin by taking time to arrive and connect, open in prayer, and then review a portion the sermon from the previous Sunday. There isn’t time to go through everything, but we go where we are drawn, following the outline or not.
There is considerably more to each sermon than what appears in the outline, and I suggest viewing it if you have the time and interest. Sermon videos typically run about 30-35 minutes. Take a few notes. Comment below.
Toward the end of our time we look at the “fill-in” sermon points, published with blanks in the bulletin but presented in full within the sermon and here. We also may glance at the questions for reflection (also from the bulletin) if there is time, and we close with extended prayer.
Note About This Series
This “Big God” sermon series is based on the book Big God — What Happens When We Trust Him by Britt Merrick.
Pre-Sermon Anthem
Sermon Video
Optional but recommended.
Sermon-only YouTube Livestream Excerpt Link
Full Service YouTube Livestream Link
Sermon Outline
Scripture Reading
Hebrews 11:5-6 - 5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Genesis 5:21-23 - 21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
People with faith needed in this world
Looking at faith stories, people who got things right
Last week, Abel, worship
This week, Enoch.
Taken from this world, did not experience death.
Little other information about him. Had faith. Pleased God.
(See scripture reading, Gen. 5:21-23)
Slide: Enoch demonstrates faith walking.
Sounds very basic, yet he appears in the Hebrews ch. 11 “Hall of Faith”.
Lived in very challenging, degenerate times, not long before the Flood.
What does it mean to “walk with God”?
Slide: [It means] We have a relationship with God.
Slide: Genesis 3:8 - “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day . . .”
Genesis 6:9 - “. . . and he walked faithfully with God.”
Genesis 17:1 - “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.”
Genesis 24:40 - “He replied, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked faithfully . . .”
Genesis 48:15 - ““May the God before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully . . .”
Adam & Eve’s bond with God was broken.
Noah, Abram, Isaac walked faithfully with God. “Walking with” is relational language.
Slide: [It means] We are willing to go with God.
A relationship we are willing to have, that we are pursuing with our own hearts and minds.
Enoch did what he did willingly. There is a willingness that needs to take place.
Amos 3:3 - Do two walk together
unless they have agreed to do so?
Slide: We are consistently moving forward.
Slide: Philippians 3:13-14 - 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Paul isn’t “there yet” either. Doesn’t have it all together. Continuing the relationship, continuing to walk with God. Will go forward with Him until we are together forever. That was his goal.
Some think the Christian life is “a moment rather than a movement”.
Faith leads us, guides us, toward the next step. Pressing forward in our relationship continually.
[Comments about baptisms occurring the day of the sermon.]
Baptism is a moment, but a moment we should remember. Draws us to the grace God has given us through his son Jesus Christ. We should remember our own baptism, and the covenant and promise we made. Dead to sin and alive in Christ.
Striving, moving forward, putting sin to death in our lives. Stepping forward into righteousness, faithfulness, into who God has called us to be. That is the ultimate goal. Day after day we grow stronger in our relationship with God.
[Comments about LAF track courses, offered locally the day of the sermon.]
Finding a local church / body of believers.
Spiritual disciplines
Where can I serve?
Not just about a moment. A walk with God.
Sunday gatherings hopefully offer a “refill” for the week ahead.
Three agreements we have to make to actually walk with God
Slide: How do we walk with God? We must agree to the . . . 1. Place
When walking with someone, important to agree to the place you are going.
We make the agreement with God; He determines where we are headed
What is the place to which God is leading us?
Ultimately, eternity.
Different places for different people now.
Also places all Christians everywhere called to go, such as Great commandment (Mt. 22) and great commission (Mt. 28)
Great commandment (Mt. 22)
Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Not about what we receive. Goal of relationship with God is to have a relationship with God. We want to see that strengthened, increased.
Love your neighbor as yourself. God leads us into loving others. The Spirit of God unites us. Loving both the gathered and the not yet gathered.
Great commission (Mt. 28), make disciples of all nations. Tell everyone about Jesus, in word and deed. Say hello. Be friendly. Be generous, hospitable, with the not-yet gathered. Can demonstrate love and practice evangelism in ways that are comfortable. Sometimes have to step out of comfort zone.
Slide: How do we walk with God? We must agree to the . . . 2. Path
[Disneyland “Rise of the Resistance” story. Not walking together.]
Slide: Psalm 119:9 - How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
Be people of the Word. Study, memorize, learn scripture, in community.Not everything we think is pleasing to God is. God wants our hearts. We fall short in the way we love others.
High level of expectation. Make disciples. Do it God’s way, not our way.
Slide: How do we walk with God? We must agree to the . . . 3. Pace
[Marathon story. Not running together, because pace is completely different.]
Must agree to the pace, to walk together.
Slide: Galatians 5:25 - 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
We must follow at the pace God wants us to go.We might try to outrun God. Want results now. Do things our own way. Own strength. Fails every time. God says slow down. Trust him and let him lead the way.
Many times we move too slowly. Can’t do that yet, not prepared, not equipped. Can’t, can’t, can’t. God says walk with me.
Requires consistency. Too fast, burn ourselves out. Too slow, never get to experience what God has in store for us. May eventually walk away.
Slide: Hebrews 11:5-6 - 5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
If we trust God’s plan, live according to his path, walk in step with the Spirit, we too have victory over death.
Conclusion: Ultimate destination, glory in eternity. There is a path God has laid out for us. Put our trust in Jesus Christ and walk faithfully with him each and every day. Not a one-time decision. Every day, waking up and saying “God, I’m trusting you today. Lead the way.”
Have a big faith in a big God, and walk faithfully with God each and every day. Have a relationship with him. Keep moving forward each and every day. Go where God wants you to go, on the path he wants you to take, at the pace he wants you to be on. Don’t look to be pleased by God but look to please God with our lives.
”Let’s be a people of faith. A people of mountain movers, who faithfully walk with God each and every day, and experience all we have in store for us.”
[Prayer]
[End]
Sermon Points
What does it mean to walk with God?
We have a relationship with God. (Gen. 3:8; 6:9; 17:1; 24:40; 48:15)
We are willing to go with God. (Amos 3:3)
We are consistently moving forward. (Phil. 3:13-14)
How do we walk with God? We must agree to the . . .
Place - Matthew 22:37-40
Path - Psalm 119:9
Pace - Galatians 5:25
Questions for Reflection
How is your walk with Jesus?
Are you going where God has called you, on the path He is leading you, at the pace He wants you to go? If not, which of those areas is the most challenging for you?
What is something you can do this week to walk with God and please Him?
Thanks for sharing this talk. I like how it is easy to follow and so uplifting.
Humbly, I was raised without religion - lots of love and Ethics, but no religion. I have studied many religions, grateful that I could approach them all unbiasedly. I found gems of truth in mountains of dogma in them all...
I am spiritual, however. I offer My write-up of the spiritual experience I had:
My Spiritual Experience (article): https://amaterasusolar.substack.com/p/my-spiritual-experience
Love always!